File on the Tzar
Sir: I am constrained to inform you of the sentiments of the presumed Tsarevich, Aleksei Nicholaevich Romanoff, whom I believe to be the scion of the Romanoff dynasty and the son and heir of the late Tsar Nikolai II (1868-1952). You will recall perhaps, the letter written over the signatures of Messrs Antony Summers and Thomas Mangold of the Limegrove Studios of the British Broadcasting Corporation in your readers' columns, of recent date.
His Imperial Highness takes exception to the point of view of these two diligent researchers and is probably correct, as there are now at least three versions of the true fate of the Russian Imperial Family: (1) the accepted version that the divers members of the Imperial House were all executed at Ekaterinburg, July 16/17, 1918; (2) the newer version as shown by such books as The Hunt for the Czar, the Conspirator Who Saved the Romanoys, and to a lesser extent, A History of the Russian Serret Service.
I differ with His Highness in only one area; 1 recognise such apocrypha as may be contained in these books and the many newspaper cuttings in collectors' possession tending to show the survival of the Romanoffs, as an effort to convince the world that the assassination of His Highness and his immediate family did not take place in the night of July 16/17, 1918, fifty years ago almost to this very day.
The third and most significant account of the physical survival of the Tsar, Tsarina and their five children and body servants, can best be told by His Imperial Highness, Aleksei Nicholaevich Romanoff, Grand Duke of Imperial Russia, and since 1961 or 1962. a resident of New York.
I have several times asked His Highness about his own autobiography, that I believe he has written; he has not as yet disclosed to me its date of publication or his publisher, but I have every confidence that he has written his own story, if only for the sake of his posterity,
I have never pretended to be the personal representative of the Tsarevich; if, as he avers, some interpret my interest in him as such, I cannot be responsible for that I do reiterate fa. the record and because I am constrained to do so, that I do not represent HIH Aleksei Nicholaevich Romanoff in any way save as an amateur interested in his story and am grateful for his consideration of me in that capacity. To interpret his opinions correctly, one would in reality haveto be the Tsarevich; to attempt to do so, has shown many amateurs the futility of their best efforts, my own being the least.
He recently did a taped interview with Allen Mann jnr. of radio station WTAQ of La Grange, Illinois. Should His Highness permit the universal broadcast of this fine interview, I think his own words will convince the most hardened sceptic of his genuineness as Tsarevich of Imperial Russia, and I thank you for entertaining my letters.
E. H. Stewart-Hilt 1702 Second Avenue — 3B, Gracie Station, New York, New York 10028.
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